O Come, All Ye Kellys (Love & Luck #7) - Isla Olsen Page 0,36

job; this woman has abandoned a child and now Social Services need to gather as much information as possible to determine whether she can still provide a safe environment for her other children. But I don’t like the thought that something I say could be a determining factor in that decision.

“So, what happens now?” I ask, my eyes veering toward the open doorway of Ryder’s room.

Holly glances back for a moment before returning her attention to me, her eyes full of compassion. “It’s going to be tough. According to his records he’s an orphan, and there’s no mention of any extended family who can take him in. I imagine that’s how he ended up in care in the first place. He’ll need to stay here for treatment for at least the next few days, and he’ll have a social worker assigned as his temporary guardian. But if there’s no family member that can be located quickly, he’ll go back into the system.”

The thought of Ryder going back into foster care makes my gut twist. I know there are some amazing foster parents out there, but there are also some not so great ones, and there are also many who are just doing their best with limited support, and for a kid like Ryder it’s hard to see how that could be enough.

What if someone decides it’s too much of a hassle to get his medication, so they just stop giving it to him? What if someone decides his doctor’s appointments are too expensive? What if someone leaves him alone for too long and he has a seizure and hurts himself?

I’m about to mention all my concerns to Holly when I see a familiar figure walking through the ward. Already my heart feels lighter just having Blake nearby.

As he approaches, I notice he’s holding a box in his hand. My mouth falls open in shock. “You actually got an Elmo?”

He grins. “I put the word out on social media. There was a couple in the Village whose daughter got two for Christmas so they were happy for me to take this off their hands.”

“Oh my god, this is amazing.” Despite everything, I can’t help grinning as I gaze at the Elmo stuffy. Ryder will love it.

“I’m guessing this is for Ryder?” Blake asks, one eyebrow raised.

I nod and explain the situation, introducing him to Holly as I do so.

“I’m going to check on Ryder,” Holly says with a kind smile. “I can take that in to him if you’d like?”

Blake nods and hands her the Elmo. Once she’s disappeared into the room, he reaches out to stroke my cheek, his eyes full of concern. “You’re really upset by this, aren’t you?”

I nod sadly. “I know it happens. I mean, god, this isn’t even the first time I’ve seen it happen. It’s just…there’s something about this kid, Blake. And I’m so scared he’s going to get tossed back into the system and he won’t get the proper support he needs. He deserves so much better than to be a…a burden on someone. He deserves a good life. A great life.”

Blake pulls me into his arms, holding me tight and pressing a kiss to the top of his head. “Okay,” he says simply.

“Okay, what?”

He draws back from me a little, his hands coming up to cup my face. “Okay, we’ll foster him.”

My mouth falls open. “But—”

“We’ll speak to whoever we need to speak to. We’ll do whatever training we need to do. We’ll get whatever qualification we need to get. And he’ll come home with us and we’ll take care of him.”

20

Ben

* * *

Feeling Aidan shift in my arms, I crack my eyes open to find him gazing at me, that familiar look of affection lighting his beautiful green eyes.

“Morning,” I murmur.

The corner of his mouth quirks up. “Morning. Happy New Year.”

I grin and lean forward to brush my lips against his. “Happy New Year, babe.”

“Are we really lame for not celebrating the new year with people last night?”

I shake my head. “No way. I prefer the way we celebrated.” Grabbing his waist, I roll us over so I’m molded on top of him, my lips finding his again as I start to move my hips.

“Wait,” he gasps, tearing his mouth away.

I stop moving. “Yeah?”

“I just…really need to pee. Like, my bladder is ready to burst.”

With a chuckle, I roll off him and prop myself up on my elbows, my eyes glued to his naked ass as he rushes to the bathroom. A